Nearly every one of approximately 125 Liquor Control Enforcement officers in the state, along with state troopers and IRS agents, took part in the widespread sweep that targeted locations in Luzerne, Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wayne counties, authorities said.

Police raided several warehouses tied to one vendor, which was not named.

Investigations also targeted machines in licensed alcohol establishments, like bars and private clubs, along with non-licensed places like convenience stores, smoke shops and laundromats.

"It was a huge undertaking," LCE Sgt. James Jones, who is based out of the Punxatawny bureau, said today at the LCE district office in Hanover Township.

Officials said the seizure of the machines was the result of illegal payouts to undercover officers or because the machines possessed gambling characteristics making them illegal.

Police also seized a "significant" amount of cash.

Criminal charges and/or liquor code citation are expected against the vendors and establishments, police said. The IRS is also investigating.

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Internal Revenue Service agents and state police raided three storage buildings in Nanticoke and multiple bars across the region Wednesday in a widespread sweep to seize illegal video poker machines.

Details about the operation were closely guarded, as officials conducting the raids declined comment.

One IRS agent referred questions to IRS Special Agent Shauna Frye, spokeswoman for the IRS Criminal Investigations Division in Philadelphia.

"From the IRS side of things, I can't say a lot of things. We were out there. We were on official business," Frye said in a phone call, declining further comment.

Officials said more information may be released today.

Unmarked law enforcement cars lined the three storage buildings near Hill and North Market streets in Nanticoke as authorities searched inside.

Later, IRS agents, state police and members of the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement were seen hauling video poker machines from the properties.

Simultaneously, authorities seized video poker machines from area bars and private clubs in the area, including several in Nanticoke, also loading the machines in large box trucks.

It was not immediately clear Wednesday night how many machines were seized or if anyone was arrested or will be charged.

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

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